WO2021023342A1

WO2021023342A1 - Sliding door drive for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2021023342A1
Application number: PCT/DE2020/100674
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jörg BIERMANN; Sebastian GOLDMANN
Original assignee: Kiekert Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2019-08-07
Filing date: 2020-07-28
Publication date: 2021-02-11
Also published as: DE102019121351A1; EP4010555A1; EP4010555B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sliding door drive (1) for a motor vehicle, having a drive unit comprising an electric drive and a transmission (13) arranged downstream of the drive, wherein a winding drum arranged on an axle can be driven by means of the drive unit, and wherein a mechanical brake (3) is provided for the drive unit, wherein the brake (3) can be disengaged from the drive unit manually.

Description

description

Sliding door drive for a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a sliding door drive for a motor vehicle with a drive unit comprising at least one electric drive, a transmission connected downstream of the drive, wherein a winding drum arranged on an axle can be driven by means of the drive unit.

In today's motor vehicles, electrically operated sliding doors are used more and more. This facilitates access to the motor vehicle and / or gives children, for example, the opportunity to operate large sliding doors for getting in and out. Sliding doors are used in vans as well as in passenger cars. The use of electric DC motors to drive the sliding doors means that sufficient power supply is available to operate the sliding door. In order to be able to move the sliding door and thus open and / or close it even in the event of a power failure or power failure, various approaches to a solution have become known.

A sliding door for a motor vehicle has become known from DE 198 19 421 C2, in which the sliding door is connected with a door arm to a cable pull unit and the cable pull unit has at least one cable pull and at least one winding drum for winding and unwinding the cable. The winding drum is driven by a reversing drive motor via an intermediate gear, with a cable strand connected to the door arm also being wound on the winding drum and another cable strand connected to the support arm being unwound from the winding drum when the sliding door is closed, and the The drive motor and the gear are arranged on the inside of the body and a cable guide is provided for the cable pull. To implement an emergency actuation, the transmission has a drive shaft for the output shaft, which counteracts spring action and Retention of a rotary drive is axially displaceable relative to the output shaft. Furthermore, the drive shaft can be decoupled or coupled from a coupling bushing surrounding it by way of axial displacement, an actuating lever being able to be coupled and decoupled to two defined end positions for the functional positions. After decoupling, the drive motor is separated from the drive shaft so that the sliding door can be operated manually.

Another emergency actuation is known from DE 296 13 848 A1. In another context, namely to adjust the flue of a sunroof in a motor vehicle, a motor transmission drive unit is known in which the transmission has a drive shaft for the output shaft and the drive shaft is axially displaceable relative to the output shaft against spring action and while maintaining a rotational drive. The output shaft can also be decoupled or coupled from a coupling socket surrounding it by means of axial displacement, the coupling socket being connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive gear driven by the drive motor.

In addition, DE 38 27 359 A1 discloses a swing-out outer sliding door for a motor vehicle in which the door leaf is guided over a roller carriage along a guide rail arranged on the outer wall of the vehicle. An endless round cable is used to drive the roller carriage and thus the door leaf, one drum of which runs inside the guide rail and is guided around a pulley in the area of the door opening, while the subsequent drum runs directly behind the guide rail to the end of the guide rail . The round cable is connected to the roller carriage, so that when the round cable is appropriately driven by the drive roller, the roller carriage can be moved back and forth in the guide rail for opening and closing the door leaf. The drive roller is connected to the drive motor via a controllable clutch, through which the sliding door can be opened by Fland in an emergency.

Finally, a sliding door with an electric drive is known in which an endless cable is also provided, which is used to open and close the Sliding door is guided in opposite directions to a corresponding circulation path. The drive is designed so that in the idle state there is no connection between the drive motor or gearbox and the cable drum via which the cable is driven. Only when the electromotive drive is set in motion is a positive connection established (see US Pat. No. 5,737,875 A).

The known state of the art shows possible solutions for emergency actuation of a sliding door, but is in need of improvement overall. In particular, the means for emergency actuation are tied to elaborate structural solutions or require a large amount of space due to their drives. This is where the invention comes in.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency actuation for a sliding door drive in a motor vehicle. In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide an emergency actuation that requires little space and can be easily integrated into existing systems. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a structurally simple and inexpensive solution for an emergency actuation of a sliding door drive in a motor vehicle.

The object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. It is pointed out that the exemplary embodiments described below are not restrictive; rather, any possible variations of the features described in the description and the subclaims are possible.

According to claim 1, the object of the invention is achieved by providing a sliding door drive for a motor vehicle with a drive unit, comprising at least one electric drive, a gear connected downstream of the drive, a winding drum arranged on an axle being drivable by means of the drive unit , and being a mechanical brake is provided for the drive unit, the brake being manually disengageable from the drive unit. The structure of the sliding door drive according to the invention now makes it possible to use an existing brake directly for emergency actuation. If the mechanical brake of the drive unit is connected to the drive unit so that a braking effect and thus holding the sliding door is possible, there is the possibility of manually releasing the brake from engagement with the drive unit and thus releasing the sliding door. The released sliding door can then be closed or opened manually.

A direct current motor is preferably used as the electric drive, which in turn is advantageous since the corresponding voltage supply is available in the motor vehicle. The electric drive interacts with a gear, preferably a worm gear, so that sufficient actuating force is available to drive the sliding door. The sliding door drive preferably works with pull cables which are arranged on a winding drum and by means of which the sliding door can be operated in an opening direction and a closing direction. The gear connected downstream of the drive interacts with the winding drum, whereby it is also conceivable that at least one gear wheel of the gear can be designed in one piece with the winding drum, so that a reliable transmission of the torques from the electric drive to the winding drum is guaranteed at all times can be. It is of course also conceivable that two different winding drums are used, for example a first winding drum being used to open the sliding door and a further winding drum to be used to close the sliding door. The mechanical brake acts on the drive unit and is able to brake the drive unit and / or hold it in one position.

In a preferred embodiment, the brake comprises a brake lever. The brake lever of the brake is able to act on the drive unit and directly on movable parts of the drive unit. The use of a brake lever is advantageous in that it can be adjusted by means of a lever and thus sufficient braking forces can be introduced into the drive unit. Depending on the size and opening to be closed in the motor vehicle, sliding doors can cause different holding forces in the brake. By using a brake lever, the sliding door drive can be adapted to the different requirements in the motor vehicle so that a sufficiently large braking torque can be introduced into the drive unit through the mounting and the engagement point of the brake lever in the drive unit.

The brake can preferably be actuated electrically, which results in an alternative embodiment of the brake. The mechanical brake can be driven by means of an electric motor, wherein the brake lever can preferably be driven by means of the electric motor. The brake lever is preferably driven by means of a gear, in particular a worm gear, which on the one hand results in an easy and quick control of the brake lever and on the other hand the brake lever can introduce sufficient braking force into the drive unit. Of course, it is also conceivable to use a different type of toothing, so that, for example, a spur gear toothing or a spindle drive is used to actuate the brake lever. The type of gear is thus a means of setting a corresponding braking force, influencing the actuation speed of the brake lever and adapting it to the assembly space available for the sliding door drive. In any case, it is advantageous to drive the brake by means of a transmission in order to be able to adapt and set the aforementioned advantages individually to the requirements in the motor vehicle.

It can also be advantageous and represent a further variant of the invention if the brake lever can be brought into direct engagement with the transmission. The direct engagement of the brake lever in the transmission makes it possible to provide a brake that requires little space, since the brake is reduced to a minimal number of components. In particular, the brake lever can be pivotably mounted in a housing of the sliding door drive, with one axial end of the brake lever forming a bearing point of the brake lever, whereas an axial end opposite the bearing point with the bearing drive is engaged. The engagement surface of the brake lever and thus the brake contour of the brake lever can then act accordingly on the gear of the drive unit connected downstream of the drive.

The drive unit has an electric drive and, in particular, an electric motor, the electric motor enabling the sliding door to be driven by means of the downstream gear. A worm or a gearwheel is preferably arranged on the output shaft of the motor of the sliding door drive, the worm or, for example, the straight-toothed gearwheel interacting. The brake lever can be brought into engagement directly with the transmission and preferably with the driven worm wheel. In this way, favorable lever ratios in the brake lever can be combined with a favorable engagement surface in the transmission in order to ensure reliable braking and holding of the sliding door. In particular, through a favorable selection of the lever ratio on the brake lever, high holding forces can be combined with, for example, large diameters of the driven worm wheel in order to also be able to brake and hold large sliding doors with high weights. Likewise, in the case of small sliding doors and low braking and holding forces, favorable lever ratios and engagement surfaces in the braking and holding system of the sliding door drive can be implemented.

In a further embodiment variant of the invention, the means for manually actuating the brake is designed as part of the drive, in particular as part of the transmission of the drive of the brake. If the means for manual actuation is directly part of the brake itself, an emergency actuation for the sliding door drive can be provided with minimal structural means. Advantageously, the means for manual actuation is directly part of the gearbox of the drive, the gearbox being actuatable by means of the means for manual actuation and thus the brake and preferably the brake lever being able to be disengaged from the sliding door drive. The means for manual actuation can advantageously be a drive wheel and preferably a drive pulley, which in turn results in an embodiment variant of the invention. Training the means for actuation as a drive wheel enables sufficient force to be introduced into the drive of the brake or into the gearbox of the drive of the brake, a diameter of the drive pulley being selectable such that the diameter provides the necessary force to adjust the brake is customizable. In this way, smaller diameters can be selected with low forces in the brake than is necessary with large forces in the brake. In any case, by means of the intervention of the manual means for actuation, a possibility is provided to intervene in the sliding door drive, and in particular to intervene in an area which enables the sliding door drive to be influenced with the least possible means. In this case, there is no direct intervention in the operating chain of the sliding door drive, but in the braking system of the sliding door drive, whereby the intervention in the gearbox of the brake in turn intervenes in an area that is manually closed by the separate drive for the brake with low forces is adjusted, since only the brake has to be released from engagement with the drive, so that the holding brake can be released with little force, since only in a secondary part of the sliding door drive, i.e. not in the primary drive chain of the sliding door drive is intervened.

In an advantageous embodiment variant, the means for actuation extends through the housing, in particular a housing cover. If a drive disk is arranged on the brake, the drive disk can reach through the cover of the sliding door drive or the housing shell, whereby the operator is able to reach the brake or the brake release means directly. The drive wheel or the drive disk is rotatably received in the housing or forms part of the drive of the brake. In an advantageous manner and in a further embodiment variant, the means for actuating has a surface structure, in particular a knurled structure. If the surface or an outer edge of the drive pulley is provided with a profile, easy and reliable actuation of the drive pulley can be made possible. A knurled structure is preferably introduced into the surface, knurled structures proving to be a reliable means of engagement for manual operation and are often used. The knurled structure can be attached to an annular outer surface of the drive pulley, but is preferably attached in the area that can be reached manually by the operator.

The means for actuation is preferably arranged on the drive wheel of the drive of the brake. The drive wheel of the drive of the brake is preferably a worm wheel of the brake motor. In this way, the actuation chain of the brake lever can be directly influenced. The worm arranged on the output shaft of the brake motor preferably engages directly in a toothing of the brake lever. Thus, by means of the drive disk or the drive wheel for manual actuation, the brake lever can be actuated in accordance with the brake motor. For this purpose, in the event of a power failure, in which the brake motor cannot be electrically released, the drive wheel or the drive disc is rotated, whereby the worm in engagement with the brake lever is rotated and the brake is released from the engagement of the sliding door - drive can be solved.

In an advantageous manner, the means for actuation can be designed in one piece with the drive wheel of the drive of the brake. A one-piece design of the drive wheel or the drive pulley with, for example, a worm of a worm drive can reduce the number of parts required to achieve an emergency operation to a minimum, since only an expanded design of the worm, for example, is required. In an advantageous manner, however, a multi-part design of, for example, the worm and drive pulley can also take place. It is advantageous if the means for actuating is connected to the drive wheel of the brake in a form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material fit. The drive wheel or the drive pulley can, for example, also be attached to the drive shaft of the brake motor and engage positively in, for example, a worm. Depending on the requirements of the brake, a combined connection of the drive pulley with the worm wheel, for example, can take place here. In any case, the design according to the invention is used for manual release the brake provides a structurally favorable emergency actuation for a sliding door drive that is reduced to a minimal space requirement.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings using a preferred exemplary embodiment. However, the principle applies that the exemplary embodiment does not restrict the invention, but merely represents an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The features shown can be carried out individually or in combination with further features of the description as well as the claims, individually or in combination.

It shows:

FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a sliding door drive in the area of a connection of a drive cable and in a view of the housing cover in the area of the brake, with a manually accessible knurled disk; and

FIG. 2 shows the view of the sliding door drive according to FIG. 1, the housing cover not being shown, so that the view of the drive unit and the manual actuation of the mechanical brake for the drive unit can be seen.

In FIG. 1, a sliding door drive 1 is shown in a plan view of a housing in the area of a drive for a mechanical brake 3 and a guide 4 for a drive cable 5. FIG. 1 shows the view of a housing cover 6, a knurled disk protruding through the housing cover 6 so that the knurled disk 7 can be grasped and actuated manually. In this exemplary embodiment, the knurled disk is shown as a cylindrical flat disk which protrudes through an opening 8 in the housing cover 6. The knurled washer 7 has a profiled surface, so that the knurled disk can be easily operated and, in particular, turned. In addition to the opening 8 for the knurled washer 7, the housing cover 6 has recesses 9, 10, 11, which serve to accommodate or guide the electric drive 12, the worm wheel 13 and the drive cable 5. By means of an assembly opening 14 which is formed on the housing 2, the sliding door drive 1 can, for example, be attached to a body of a motor vehicle. In this exemplary embodiment, screws 15, 16 and clip connections 17, 18 can also be seen, by means of which the housing cover 6 can be connected to the housing 2.

In FIG. 2, the partial area of the sliding door drive 1 according to FIG. 1 is shown in a view of the sliding door drive 1 without the housing cover 6. The electric drive 12 can be seen, on the output shaft of which a worm 20 is mounted, the worm 20 engaging a toothing of a brake lever 21 and interacting with the brake lever 21. In this exemplary embodiment, the knurled disk 7 is formed in one piece with the worm 20 of the mechanical brake 3. The brake lever 21 can be moved in the direction of the arrow P1 by means of the electric drive 12 and the worm 20. The brake lever 21 can be brought into engagement with the drive of the worm wheel 13 and / or the downstream gear 13 so that the sliding door drive can be braked. Depending on the design of the sliding door drive 1, a braking effect can be achieved by means of the brake lever 21 in the direction of the worm wheel 13 or in an opposite direction. Mechanical braking of the sliding door drive is preferably made possible by means of the brake lever 21 and in an end position of the brake lever 21.

If, in the case in which the brake lever 21 is mechanically engaged in braking with the sliding door drive 1, a power drop or failure occurs, the brake lever 21 can be adjusted manually by means of the knurled disk 7. An operator can preferably move the worm 20 by gripping the knurled disk 7 and turning the knurled disk 7 and thus move the brake lever 21 out of the braking engagement with the sliding door drive. After the brake lever 21 has been released, the sliding door can then be moved manually so that the sliding door can be opened or closed if, for example, there is a power failure in the motor vehicle. In FIG. 2 the worm wheel 13 is also shown as part of the transmission 13, in this embodiment a winding drum 22 is formed in one piece with the worm wheel 13, the drive cable 5 being able to be wound onto the winding drum. The drive cable 5 is part of a Bowden cable, the Bowden cable 23 being guided and / or held in the housing 2 and the housing cover 6 by means of a spiral spring 24.

In this exemplary embodiment, the engagement between the brake lever 21 and the worm 20 is designed as a worm drive, but it is also conceivable to use an evoloid toothing or spur gear toothing as a drive for the brake lever 21. The selection of the toothing is not restricted and can be adapted depending on the application, for example to different forces and paths. It is also conceivable that the knurled disk 7 can be designed as a separate component, the knurled disk 7 being connectable to the worm 20 in a non-positive, positive and / or material fit. Also shown is a positioning of the knurled disk 7 at an axial end 25 of the motor axis 19, but it is also conceivable to arrange the knurled disk 7 directly in the area of the housing of the electrical drive of the brake 12. It is also conceivable that a toothing and thus a transmission are arranged between the knurled disk 7 and the worm 20 itself, so that, for example, a slight movement of the brake lever 21 is possible.

List of reference symbols

1 sliding door drive

2 housings

3 mechanical brake

4 leadership

5 drive rope

6 housing cover

7 knurled washer

8 opening

9, 10, 1 1 recess 12 electrical drive of the brake

13 worm wheel, gear

14 Assembly opening

15, 16 screws 17, 18 clip connection

19 axis

20 worm 21 brake lever 22 winding drum

23 Bowden cable

24 coil spring

25 axial end

P1 arrow

Claims

1. Sliding door drive (1) for a motor vehicle with a drive unit comprising an electric drive, a gear (13) connected downstream of the drive, wherein a winding drum arranged on an axis can be driven by means of the drive unit, characterized in that a mechanical brake (3 ) is provided for the drive unit, the brake (3) being able to be manually disengaged from the drive unit.

2. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the brake (3) comprises a brake lever (21).

3. Sliding door drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the brake (3) can be actuated electrically.

4. Sliding door drive (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the brake (3) can be driven by means of a gear, in particular a worm gear.

5. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the brake lever (21) can be brought into engagement directly with the gear (13) connected downstream of the drive.

6. Sliding door drive (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the means for manual actuation (7) of the brake (3) as part of the drive, in particular as part of the gearbox of the drive, the brake (3 ) is trained.

7. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for manual actuation (7) is a drive wheel (7), in particular a drive pulley (7).

8. Sliding door drive (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the means for manual actuation (7) extends through the housing (2), in particular a housing cover (6).

9. Sliding door drive according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the means for actuating (7) has a surface structure, in particular a knurled structure.

10. Sliding door drive according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the means for actuating (7) drive wheel (20) of the drive

Brake is arranged.

11. Sliding door drive (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the means for actuating (7) is formed in one piece with the drive wheel (20) of the drive of the brake.

12. Sliding door drive (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the means for actuating (7) is positively, non-positively and / or cohesively connected to the drive wheel (20) of the brake.